I would add to @allyn 's post that people should not be disappointed at the sentence Bannon may receive if/when he is convicted. He faces a relatively light sentence (a total of up to two years in prison and $200K fines, but it would likely be considerably less). I'm sure there will be those on Twitter and elsewhere who scream bloody murder about him "getting off easy", but this is really just one of the first salvos against TFG's inner circle, and depending on evidence in the possession of either the Committee, the DOJ, or both, he may be liable for other crimes as well.
I guess my thinking is Bannon is only getting 30 days. He won’t toss his newest grift on MAGA world by turning on Trump. He’ll wear it like a badge of honor and play the victim card. He’s one of the most dangerous men in America
I guess my thinking is Bannon is only getting 30 days. He won’t toss his newest grift on MAGA world by turning on Trump. He’ll wear it like a badge of honor and play the victim card. He’s one of the most dangerous men in America
THE most dangerous. Here's an excellent article in The Atlantic. I'm always gobsmacked that these people agree to have reporters follow them around and interview them.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/07/steve-bannon-war-room-democracy-threat/638443/
I agree that Bannon probably won't get much jail time (if he gets any at all). But that is not the point.
As an attorney, I have been involved in hundreds of cases, including criminal law cases, where people are in proceedings that threatens so much. Obviously, losing one's freedom, even if it is just for a short time, is bad enough. But there are other factors to consider as well. Convictions of felonies can affect a person's ability to have a job or position. In most states, it can be used as a means to permanently take away a person's parental rights (In Tennessee, a sentence of ten years can be used as a reason to terminate a parent's rights, even if the parent is in drug treatment, probation, or parole. Other factors are considered, of course, but it does happen).
Also, don't forget that anyone convicted of a felony can't own and/or possess a firearm.
Can you imagine all of those January 6 defendants when they learn that they lose their gun rights after being convicted of a felony and they can NEVER get them back? Even now, as I type on my computer, I am LOL because I can imagine their shock ("NOOOOO! Why are you taking away our guns!? The criminal justice system is supposed to take guns away from minorities and immigrants, not us!!!")
But even if Bannon somehow works out a deal, gets a misdemeanor, gets probation, etc., it doesn't matter. Because I can attest that one of the worst possible punishments for Bannon is the one he is going through right now.
I often see the most anxiety from my clients who are considered "affluent" and out of custody. They live their lives shielded from the ugly side of society and have a warped idea of the law and how it is supposed to be applied. Many of my affluent clients believe they deserve a break because they are such "outstanding citizens" or because they are from a certain family. And while they may get a break on certain lower crimes, they are often shocked to the core when the DA decides to make an example of them by making them serve jail time, particularly if they are certain charges involving drugs, rape/molestation, DUI, etc. They often panic in and out of the courthouse, because they come in with the expectation that things will go easy on them only to be slammed with reality.
Further, many clients suffer what I call "speaking sickness." They think that if they address the judge and jury, they can convince them that they are innocent of any wrongdoing. However, they are shocked when the judge puts limits on their ability to say whatever they want (you can see from my previous post that Bannon is prohibited from bringing forth defenses because they are legally wrong, time-consuming, irrelevant, and basically nonsense.) So the fact the Bannon will be forced to limit his speech to a jury is painful to him. He has always used his mouth to spread lies and hatred, but he can't this time. He won't be surrounded by adoring fans, but by hostile law enforcement and prosecutors.
I see these clients put themselves through the worst possible stress. The uncertainty of the situation is bad enough for attorneys, but clients? To be told that they can't bring up things in an attempt to confuse the jury. To lose control of what will happen to them. Such agony before a trial cannot be properly described, only experienced.
So Bannon is going through a lot of anxiety right now, despite his bravado. If nothing else, he will likely lose his right to a firearm if convicted (in the Republican mind, that is a fate worse than death). So I am probably happier at seeing Bannon go to trial than many here simply because I have experienced firsthand just how stressful and miserable court proceedings are for people. Above all else, Bannon loses control of his fate while this case is pending. He can't make future plans without first checking with his court schedule, and he doesn't know if he will be serving time or not. Such is the stress of court proceedings that I often see less stress from my clients who are already convicted than those awaiting trial.
I doubt we will get full justice in this matter, but just knowing that Bannon is suffering from anxiety right now puts a big smile on my face. After decades of crusading against people's rights and freedoms, it is therapeutic for me to know that Bannon is sleeping ill now that justice is threatening his own freedom.
@allyn -
Thanks so much for your informative and insightful POV regarding Bannon. Even though he may be hobbled for the moment he relishes the disruption he is causing. Just like his pal 'The Orange Boil' he has distain for any mainstream structure and his goal is to destroy it no matter the outcome. Yet he, and others like him, have no alternative to offer as they only have one speed. He is a vial hateful person and it's people like him that make me so glad I'm me even though I have my flaws - as we all do. I strive every day to be better than the day before and do even better the next day and that plan has been working for some time.
This site, and this particular thread, is a daily go to for me and I really appreciate all those who contribute. It's good to know there are so many good people out there passing along good energy!
At his core, Bannon is an Anarchist (intentional capital A) - he literally wants to have the entirety of world civilization implode.
Watching today's Jan 6 committee hearing - main takeaway: Bannon, Stone, Meadows, Flynn are architects of destruction. They are craven and immoral and most likely Foreign Agents/Assets. Would love to see them all truly brought to justice, but will settle for karma of the universe via short lifespans.
Hi Allyn, I would love to see him no longer be able to make his podcast. Can they put limitations on that?
@laura-f Laura, you know i usually agree with you on just about everything, but Steve Bannon is no anarchist:
Anarchism is a political theory that is skeptical of the justification of authority and power. Anarchism is usually grounded in moral claims about the importance of individual liberty, often conceived as freedom from domination. Anarchists also offer a positive theory of human flourishing, based upon an ideal of equality, community, and non-coercive consensus building.
Bannon is anything but an anarchist. He is a fascist pig.
Maybe he's both. He focuses on this part of the definition:
the importance of individual liberty, often conceived as freedom from domination.
The definition I am more familiar with is:
--Merriam Webster
@allyn may know better than me, as I am not a lawyer, however I'm fairly certain that no, they can't really restrict his podcasting or anything like that because of the First Amendment-Freedom of Speech.
Freedom of Speech has two sides to it, for sure, and unfortunately ends up being one of the "Tolerances of Intolerance" that can actually unravel a democracy.
Germany also has a free speech doctrine, however they draw the line at hate speech, particularly as it applies to Nazis/fascism. It is against the law to use Nazi symbology or publicly try to reinstate the Reich. Get caught and they do put people in jail. Other countries may have similar laws, I don't know.
Here in the USA, however, there are too many constitutional fundamentalists who cannot bear to take into account that what made perfect sense 250+ years ago should have long ago been updated. Second Amendment is another prime example.